All warfare is based on deception. Hence, when able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must seem inactive; when we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away; when far away, we must make him believe we are near. Hold out baits to entice the enemy. Feign disorder, and crush him.
- Sun Tzu, the Art of War

Thursday, 28 January 2010

Negatives out the way first. Week 3 has pretty much been a dissapointment. I started w/ a lesson on the wendesday with my coach. We were on for about 6 hours and he said my play had improved which was good. However wednesday through to sunday my internet connection was being a twat which meant I didnt make the weekend reviews and obviously couldnt play. I did squeeze some games in but it was tilting me no end and affecting my play badly so I just didnt play anywere near enough. It hasnt been totally bad an I did still book a small profit but I am not yet on the $7s which has not pleased me. My roll is on $360 an thats my total 3 weeks profit lol.

Anyway on to the positives. The main one being I have left work. I have done this for a few reason but the main one being I fucking hate it an lifes to short to stay in a job you hate whether its security or not. Too many people in life plod along with their monitinous lifes an dont realise that soon it will be over. We only get one chance at life an this is it, lifes not a rehersal. I have a enough money to see me through for a little while and a good business opportunity to go into with a friend in april. Plus i could always find another dead end sales job. Yes I have a mortgage and responsibilities but its time to take a risk

The next 4 weeks will be spent with total dedication to the programme am on. Playing a strict 10 hour per day shcedule mon-thurs, then on sundays to. I have informed both Nick and my coach of the situation so they will be expecting alot of volume from me starting Monday. They have both shown patience with me when it comes to the lack of volume but they wont wait round forever so next week I am goin go step things up and want to be on the $7s by the end of next week at the latest. Infact guys I am goin to set myself a challenge right here an right now which is to play more in week 4 than I have in weeks 1,2 and 3. Or at least equal it

Another positive is that this is my 1st consistent month of profit in poker ever. Yes I have good wins in the past but never stuck to a system, playing the same games with strict BRM. The fact £360 is a small profit and nothing to write home about is not the point its a consistent profit which is what matters. No matter how frustrasting the 180s get I just have to keep going and keep grinding. The $2s are so sick. I have been making more deep runs an FT's than in week 2 but just cant book a win for love nor money. I dont seem to playing any differently just running into big hands in optimal spots or people calling of light and hitting so I am just trying not to let it get to me.

Stats so far;

Games played: 355profit per game: $1ROI: 46%Total Profit: £357

**Edit***

Just been set owned in the WBCOOP!! I knew if he 4 bet the flop he'd flopped a set or a straight but o well I couldnt find a fold... gg freerollaments!!

Wednesday, 20 January 2010

Over the 1st week of the programme I really struggled. I went on a 77 buy in downswing an really wondered whether I could even do this. I had some harsh words from both my coach and Nick as they said I wasn’t doing what I had been taught and things had to change w/ immediate effect. So with just $25 of the original $200 left I was obviously pissed off. So I went back through all our reviews and my notes for a night and didn’t play then since then things have picked up. I have won 2 took about 4 2nds and a couple of 3rds over the last week and have managed to pull the roll back to $430. I have not been on a heater or ran good as some people would put it I have simply been working hard making the moves that I was previously scared to do an its paying off. Yes some of my moves are totally unorthodox to the average player and even to me sometimes but the key things is having a reason for every single thing you do on a poker table. Since I have been able to say I done this because…. Or I raised there so I could… its really helping. I was trying to play to much to ‘a system’ and obvs that can’t work in poker. What Nick an Allan are teaching us is invaluable but he also teaching us that what’s right one time might not be right the next time and why, so these are the key things I am learning. Each decision is based on its own merit.

I have paid Nick his original stake back and now I feel I am playing a lil better and the moves I am making are right moves. The aim is to increase the volume fast and get to the $7’s ASAP. My coaching session went well last night and my coach said my late game is improving a lot. Making the right steals, raises and shoves etc. Obvs still missing the odd spot but as long as I keep doing what I am doing I should get there in the end.

To be honest I have surprised myself at how much I have actually been studying to get things right. You can’t win unless you study period. I have never grasped this concept in poker until now and anyone out there who is playing and not winning I suggest you put the mouse down and get the pad out. The thing is studying has never been my thing obviously as this is why I have a shit dead end job as a salesman, but with poker its different. I am so passionate and determined to beat it I found I really enjoyed the studying part. Maybe for the first time in my life I have found something that I am willing to put the work in because I love it so much.

Another thing I am learning is to be emotionless when playing. No fist pumps when I hit my set on the river and my 77 cracks AA. No crying when my lovely lookin AKs is busted by A3o. No smiles when I turn the nut flush etc etc I am tryin to play like a complete robot and its working. A solid set up is imperative and I am getting a new 24 inch screen to go with my current 17” then a lad from by mine is gonna link the 2 screens for me and create a nice set up which am looking forward to. Also there is a lot of regulars, more than I thought tbh and PT3 is helping me identify them and adjust against them accordingly.

One thing for sure is I owe Nick and Allan a lot already. Nicks a great guy and so is Allan, who has showed patients in his students. What these guys are doing is fantastic imo, so I just thought it deserved a mention. One of the reasons I am determined to beat is to repay the faith they have showed in me. The least they deserve is for us to work hard with time and money they’re putting in so all I can do is work my hardest and try my best which am doing. I have asked Allan for some heads up sessions now as I feel the 2nd to 1st ratio is to high and while 2nd places used to be nice, now they’re the scum of the earth, I hate them and I want to win. I know I can’t win them all but I want a higher 1st place than 2nd place ratio

Here are my stats after 2 weeks. The clear thing that stands out is VOLUME and the lack of it

Tuesday, 12 January 2010

PokerLast night I had a review with Nick. He asked us not to play any games Monday or today to keep it free for studying. Studying HH's is not something I done before this programme but I am now starting to become aware just how important this is. Basically Nick asked us to watch a SNG that a student had played and then gave us a list of questions of were we think the student went wrong an the mistake he made. After that we went through as a group using skype and everything he brought up in the review I had noted on my pad.

To be honest my 1st 110 $2.20/180 games never went to well an my original stake had dropped from $200 to $110. This is not important at this stage and we have been informed that the money is no object in the 1st week. The variance in the $2.20's is sick and you could probably easy go 100 games without winning, especially the way were being taught to play. It’s play to win. I think if you took 100 non cashes and 2 wins back to Nick, he would be happier with this than 75 cashes but no win. As of yet I have came 2nd twice and I think my heads up game needs working on but it shows I am moving in the right direction.

Nick is really supportive but he's pretty strict to and there is no fuckin about. One student got through of the programme for simply emailing over stupid questions were the answers can easily be found on Google. He won’t suffer fools but at the same time he is really encouraging. All he wants is you do as he says and you will be fine. This is understandable with the time and money he’s putting in to helping us. He doesn’t mind criticising you hard if he thinks you need it. To be honest I am really enjoying this too, it helps keep me disciplined and focused on the main thing here, which is learning to beat online poker

All in all the 1st week has gone well and I have learned a bunch of things I never knew but also I am taking encouragement from the things I was already doing right. These are things that you think you may be doing wrong but having someone tell you its right and to keep doin it, don’t be results orientated etc really helps. For instance you can sit there an you know everything they are saying but then suddenly boom they hit you with something and your like 'wow' never looked at it like that, so in that way you have to stay sharp an on the ball throughout the reviews.

Do I think I can beat this game with this team behind me? Of course I do, they really are top drawer, tbh the work they're putting in has surprised me and they really are determined to make it work just as much as the students if not more. I have one more session w/ my coach tonight then I am taking the night off from playing so I can some back tomorrow refreshed and ready to crush!

My playing schedule is not as big as it should be w/ work commitments but there is nothing I can do about that. It’s tough for example last night I had a 2 hour review at 1am my time and work at 9am but it should be worth it in the end. Here’s a schedule I am going to try and stick to over the next few weeks:

MondayGym 6pm-8pmStudying 8pm-11pm

TuesdayLesson /study 6pm-8pmGrind 8pm-12am

WednesdayGym 5pm-7pmGrind 7pm-12am

ThursdayGym 5pm-7pmGrind 7pm-12am

FridayGrind 5pm-11pm

SaturdayGrind 8am-4pmHH reviews 4pm-6pm

SundayGrind 8am-4pmHH Review 4pm-6pm

FootballNice to see Everton back playing well again. We really took the game to The Arse on the weekend and had it not been for a lucky last minute deflection Moyes might of finally had his scalp of beating one of the so called 'big 4' on there own turf. Pienaar looks at his best and I think he would walk into any team in the world. Billy is settling in more and cahill will always be a menace, Phil nevilles back an Osman is a footballers footballer so nice to see him back to and the new American lad Landon Donovan once again looks like a moyes mini masterstroke. He has everything we have been lacking lately, pace being the big one., he is rapid and the last person I seen that fast in an everton shirt was radzinski. He is determined to make a name for himself over here which is only a good thing. I think we can now make a surge up the league and w/ Arteta and Jags still to come back in feb Everton will peak when everyone esle is tired make no mistake about that. I cant see us finishing in the top 6 this simply cos its to late after our nightmare start with injuires this season but dont be surprised if you see an everton side in a cup final this year

Also, nice to see our idiot neighbours surpass even themselves this week when the director and owners son, decided to send a fan an abusive email, I mean WTF? what did they think the outcome of that would be LOL, well said Mr Hicks imo though as anyone who supports liverpool IS an idiot! They live in trhe 80's, get over it. Benitez fluked the European cup in istanbul, which was a blessing in disguise for everton fans as it kept him his job, which helped the 'liverpool fc decline' go faster than one could dream to imiagine:-).

Lets every fan out there hope City do the best thing to hit english football in the last 15 years, WIN THE LEAGUE!

Wednesday, 6 January 2010

Hope you all had a good xmas & new year, even if you have broke your resolutions by now.

My poker career has taken a significant step over the last week. I am now on Nick Raineys programme. Check it out at http://www.rainmanpoker.net/ if you're not aware of it. To say am happy is an understatement, the chance to work with an learn one of the best in the business is an excellent opportunity for me. I have never made a secret of the fact I need coaching and always reiterated it's something I would be lookin for in 2010 so this is pretty timely.

Why he chose me I dont know I am just happy to be on it. I had my 1st session with a coach called Allan who is currently crushing the multi SNG's on FT. He is good friends with and learned from both Nick and Colin (moshman) so he knows his stuff. We basically use skype to communicate and universal hand replayer to review the tournaments HH's. I learned alot just in my first session so I am looking forward to it as it progresses. I am also going to be hooked up to people on the same programme so we can talk strategy on skype hopefully keeping each other sane.

we are playing the $2.20/180s on stars

The deal is basically nick takes a 25% return on any profits made. To be staked and coached off the best team around for 25% return is an unbeatable deal imo

The fact the $2.20s are variance filled donk fests, I have had one cash in my 1st 20 games and I am running like a one legged donkey in blackpool doesnt help so I am looking forward to my next session with Allan to see just were am going wrong and what I could be doing differently in them.

Allan asked me to play a SNG an send him the HH to see were I was at and he was impressed with my early to middle game but has identified leaks in my end game.

Anyway I will keep a detailed blog so pop in an check it now and then

Hopefully the snow will start fall heavily again and I can get snowed off and use the days to simply grind grind grindGl at the tables

My Poker Story

My Name is Garry. I got into playin poker through my dad who loves the game and specialises in PLO. I would spend hours playing it for fun with no real idea what I was doing. I then started reading blogs an realised the potential of poker an what it could do for my dream of a better life.
It was after a trip to vegas I decided I had to find a way to take poker more serious which is when I put all my efforts into getting involved with Nick Rainey at www.rainmanpoker.net. I managed to get on his course after several emails and basically begging lol.
I have left worked to play poker full time an the rest is remains to be seen